Heat exchanger and air conditioner having the same and manufacturing process of the same

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of aluminum tubes formed of aluminum, each of the aluminum tubes including a plurality of grooves that are formed on an inner circumferential surface of each of the aluminum tubes and that extend along a longitudinal direction of the aluminum tubes; and a plurality of heat transfer fins coupled to the aluminum tubes. The heat exchanger may contribute to the reduction of the manufacturing cost, may provide high heat transfer performance and may prevent a coolant leak.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of aluminum tubes formed of aluminum, each of the aluminum tubes including a plurality of grooves that are formed on an inner circumferential surface of each of the aluminum tubes and that extend along a longitudinal direction of the aluminum tubes; and   a plurality of heat transfer fins coupled to the aluminum tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a number of grooves included in each of the aluminum tubes satisfies the following equation:
   30× D/ 7< N< 50× D/ 7   where N indicates the number of grooves included in each of the aluminum tubes and D indicates an external diameter of the aluminum tubes, the external diameter being within the range of 4 mm-10 mm.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein a height of the grooves satisfies the following equation:
   45/ E×D/ 7< h/ 0.07< D      where E indicates an elongation ratio of the aluminum tubes.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the aluminum tubes have an elongation ratio of 13-45. 
     
     
         5 . An air conditioner comprising the heat exchanger of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A method of fabricating a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 forming a plurality of aluminum tubes through extrusion and/or pultrusion, each of the aluminum tubes including a plurality of grooves that are formed on an inner circumferential surface of each of the aluminum tubes and that extend along a longitudinal direction of the aluminum tubes;   inserting the aluminum tubes into a plurality of heat transfer fins; and   expanding each of the aluminum tubes.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a number of grooves included in each of the aluminum tubes satisfies the following equation:
   30× D/ 7< N< 50× D/ 7   where N indicates the number of grooves included in each of the aluminum tubes and D indicates an external diameter of the aluminum tubes, the external diameter being within the range of 4 mm-10 mm.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a height of the grooves satisfies the following equation:
   45/ E×D/ 7< h/ 0.07< D      where E indicates an elongation ratio of the aluminum tubes.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the aluminum tubes have an elongation ratio of 13-45. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the aluminum tubes have an external diameter of 7 mm.